The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will soon receive a new consignment of armoured vehicles, being imported from Japan, with a view to tackling terrorism and militant activities ahead of the next general election.
The vehicles and equipment, which cost the government around Tk309 crore, have already reached Chittagong Port and are awaiting clearance.
The Home Ministry is dealing with the import of this batch of 12 armoured vehicles, 20 escort vehicles and five floodlight vehicles.
An official of the Public Security Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs said various plans were taken to increase the efficiency and capacity of the police force.
“As part of this, anti-terrorist units across the country, including Dhaka, need to buy modern equipment to deal with terrorism and religious extremism. That is why these are being bought,” the official said, asking not to be named.
The project to purchase the heavy vehicles was initiated in 2019 and at first Tk79 crore was approved for it.
Later, the budget was increased to Tk309 crore. Of this, the government will spend Tk269 crore while the remaining amount will be taken from grants by development partners.
The purchase is scheduled to be completed within the next three months.
Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Gazi Mozammel Haque said: “The vehicles and equipment are being brought from Japan as part of a project to increase the capacity of the DMP. Once the money is released, the consignment will be cleared from the port.”
In the last few days, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on several occasions said that the police have a long experience in how to control the law and order during elections and the force is ready to face any challenge in the coming days as well.
